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- May 8, 2002
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MIAMI – Observations and other notes of interest from Monday night’s 136-111 loss to the San Antonio Spurs:
– The defense was supposed to hold this together.
– And then this.
– With the Spurs up to 76 points at halftime.
– The Heat entered allowing 128 points per game in the four-game losing streak they carried into the night.
– Granted, the quality of competition has gone up over this stretch.
– But it also has reinforced that even the Heat’s touchstones are out of touch against elite competition..
– The Spurs are out of the Heat’s league.
– With it possibly to be a seven-game losing streak following the seven-game winning streak, unless the Heat get one of the next two in Cleveland.
– As in the team that created last year’s season-ending playoff humiliation.
– The thought was it would get better when the Heat got better in terms of health..
– They were whole on Monday night, and wholly not good enough.
– Remember, the seven-game winning streak was built off two wins against the Nets and one against the Wizards.
– The teams that now graciously also are losing to the teams the Heat are battling in the play-in/playoff race.
– Yes, there already are more wins than last season.
– And, yes, Vegas’ preseason win total has been eclipsed.
– But a mere two weeks ago there was hope of something substantive.
– Now? Not so much.
–With the Heat whole for the rare night, Erik Spoelstra tonight opened with a lineup of Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, Pelle Larsson, Tyler Herro and Davion Mitchell.
– That made it Norman Powell off the bench for the third time in his last four appearances, his only bench appearances this season.
– When winning, it would be hard for Powell, with all his missed time, to take issue with the reserve role.
– Now?
– The Spurs opened with a lineup of De’Aaron Fox, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie, Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle.
– Reinforcing the value of the lottery.
– Mitchell’s first assist was his 400th of the season.
– His previous career high was 363 last season.
– Kel’el Ware, Powell and Jaime Jaquez Jr. entered together in the first substitution.
– Powell and Ware were back from injury, with Ware coming off 4:38 of playing time Saturday in Houston.
– Kasparas Jakucionis then followed.
– That was it for the Heat with the game in the balance.
– With Simone Fontecchio, Dru Smith and Myron Garnder out of that mix.
– Before the game, Spoelstra said, “I feel and we all feel pretty good about our identity and how we want to play. That’s a harder thing to generate during a season. And now it’s just a matter of doing it in these moments of truth.”
– He added, “We just have to find a way to stay the course and make enough plays where it secures a win.”
– Couldn’t.
– And didn’t.
Continue reading...
– The defense was supposed to hold this together.
– And then this.
– With the Spurs up to 76 points at halftime.
– The Heat entered allowing 128 points per game in the four-game losing streak they carried into the night.
– Granted, the quality of competition has gone up over this stretch.
– But it also has reinforced that even the Heat’s touchstones are out of touch against elite competition..
– The Spurs are out of the Heat’s league.
– With it possibly to be a seven-game losing streak following the seven-game winning streak, unless the Heat get one of the next two in Cleveland.
– As in the team that created last year’s season-ending playoff humiliation.
– The thought was it would get better when the Heat got better in terms of health..
– They were whole on Monday night, and wholly not good enough.
– Remember, the seven-game winning streak was built off two wins against the Nets and one against the Wizards.
– The teams that now graciously also are losing to the teams the Heat are battling in the play-in/playoff race.
– Yes, there already are more wins than last season.
– And, yes, Vegas’ preseason win total has been eclipsed.
– But a mere two weeks ago there was hope of something substantive.
– Now? Not so much.
–With the Heat whole for the rare night, Erik Spoelstra tonight opened with a lineup of Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, Pelle Larsson, Tyler Herro and Davion Mitchell.
– That made it Norman Powell off the bench for the third time in his last four appearances, his only bench appearances this season.
– When winning, it would be hard for Powell, with all his missed time, to take issue with the reserve role.
– Now?
– The Spurs opened with a lineup of De’Aaron Fox, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie, Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle.
– Reinforcing the value of the lottery.
– Mitchell’s first assist was his 400th of the season.
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- Powell, Wiggins, Jaquez all cleared for Heat returns, with rotation again whole
- Heat’s Adebayo in elite company with 32-point, 21-rebound effort: See full list
- ASK IRA: Does loss at buzzer in Houston deserve further Heat inspection?
- From the depths of defeat in Houston, Heat have to rise to the tall order of Wemby, Spurs
- ASK IRA: Was final play in Houston a moment of truth for Heat’s Ware (or an error elsewhere)?
– His previous career high was 363 last season.
– Kel’el Ware, Powell and Jaime Jaquez Jr. entered together in the first substitution.
– Powell and Ware were back from injury, with Ware coming off 4:38 of playing time Saturday in Houston.
– Kasparas Jakucionis then followed.
– That was it for the Heat with the game in the balance.
– With Simone Fontecchio, Dru Smith and Myron Garnder out of that mix.
– Before the game, Spoelstra said, “I feel and we all feel pretty good about our identity and how we want to play. That’s a harder thing to generate during a season. And now it’s just a matter of doing it in these moments of truth.”
– He added, “We just have to find a way to stay the course and make enough plays where it secures a win.”
– Couldn’t.
– And didn’t.
Continue reading...
